Hydropolitics of the Middle East: a Case Study of Tigris and Euphrates, Nile and Jordan Rivers Basins

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

PhD student in International Relations, University of Guilan

Abstract

The Middle East and North Africa region is the driest region in the world. There are four great rivers, ie Nile, Tigris, Euphrates, and Jordan in this area. The coastal states of these rivers disagree on how to divide the water and construct what type of dam on the river. Basically, the upstream countries use the doctrine of absolute sovereignty, considering the realist and interests-based approach, and consider damming of the waterfall located within their land as their absolute right, while the downstream countries, according to the liberal and neoliberal approaches condemn any exploitation of common water resources in the upstream territory and seek to achieve shared waters and the fair allocation of water. This article has been designed to examine common rifts among different countries in the Middle East and North Africa. The present study points out that the Middle East and North Africa are facing dehydration and depression due to the presence of dry and semi-arid bogs and the immense population growth, as well as the lack of proper management of water. This dehydration crisis does not lead to the cooperation and convergence of countries in this area, but by adopting a realistic approach and taking account of the interests of the axis, it leads to rivalry and hostility between actors, so that the Middle East might be considered the next great scene for the war

Keywords

References

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History

  • Receive Date: 05 March 2017
  • Revise Date: 09 August 2017
  • Accept Date: 06 September 2017

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